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International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education (IJHSSE)

Volume 6, Issue 5, May 2019, PP 1-16

ISSN 2349-0373 (Print) & ISSN 2349-0381 (Online)

http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2349-0381.0605003

www.arcjournals.org

International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education (IJHSSE) Page | 1

Critical Assessment of the Nigeria Police and National Security in

Nigeria’s Fourth Republic

Alozie, Cyprian C., Ph.D.

Department of Political Science, Abia State University, Uturu, Nigeria

1. INTRODUCTION

The word, “police” was derived from the Greek word “polis”. Originally, policing was noted to be a

non-ecclesiastical function just like health delivery, safety, law and order, service administration

among others (Barnabas, 2013). The Greek word “politeria and Roman word, “politia combined to

mean police. These words therefore denote the art of governing as well as regulation of the welfare,

security needs, peace and order of the society for the interest of the general public. Modern police

system originated from Greece but the Romans actually modernized it (Whitaker, 1979). The police

occupies a pivotal position in the enhancement of the national security of every nation.

Constitutionally, the police sees to the maintenance of peace, order and security of the state. In

addition, the police is also duty bound to protect the lives and property of the citizens. As an arm of

the executive, the police is the para-military agency of the state that relates better and closer with the

grassroot. The closer relation the civil society is expected to enjoy with the police is to enhance

national security as well as ensuring effective policing of the society and nation.

The Nigeria police was a colonial creation. The British created the police first as bodyguards and

second as an instrument of suppressing the natives and maintenance of public order. The pre-colonial

era in Nigeria saw the various kingdoms of Hausa-Fulani, the Yoruba and the Igbo establish what was

known as body guards that were given various names in the various kingdoms. The formal

establishment of the police in Nigeria came in 1861 following the recommendation of a-30 member

consular guard under the control of the then Governor of British West Africa. The formation of the

guards was necessitated by the need to protect the British trade and business interest and forestall

conflicts between the native chiefs and the imperial merchants (Cromwell, 1978). Later in 1861, the

Governor of Lagos by name, McCoskry got permission to set up the first Police Force for Lagos

called the Hausa Constabulary which was made up of thirty men. Other administrative arrangements

saw to the establishment of the Constabulary of Lagos in 1879 and the appointment of the first

commissioner of police in 1896 (Adegoke, 2014).

Abstract: The study focused on critical assessment of the Nigeria police and national security in Nigeria’s

fourth Republic. Specifically, the paper examined the constitutional role of the police as an important agency

of the state that plays a key role in the enhancement of national security. No doubt, the Nigeria police Force

in several instances have been playing some roles that have been contributing to national security in Nigeria.

Over the years however, the unwholesome activities of some men of the police command have continued to

leave sad memories in the mind of the people. Against this background, the paper examined some of the

activities of the Police command that have constituted serious threats to Nigeria’s national security in the

Fourth Republic. The paper employed qualitative method through the use of secondary (library) and primary

(interview) sources of data collection. The data were descriptively analyzed through detailed information

gathered from documentary sources and interviews. The Marxian approach to the theory of post colonial

state in Africa was found suitable in the analysis. The paper finds that despite current reforms to rightly

reposition and refocus the Nigeria Police Force, some members of the command have continued to indulge in

acts that have continued to constitute serious threats to national security in Nigeria. The study recommended

among others; better equipping of the Nigeria police and adherence to professionalism by officers and men of

the police command.

Keywords: Nigeria Police, National security, Corruption, Sabotage, Professionalism.

*Corresponding Author: Alozie, Cyprian C., Department of Political Science, Abia State University,

Uturu, Nigeria

Critical Assessment of the Nigeria Police and National Security in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic


For the protection of the British trade interest along the River Niger, the royal Niger Constabulary was

set up in 1886 by the Royal Niger Company to cover the Northern territories. The Royal Niger

Constabulary got disbanded in 1900 into the northern Nigeria police Force which covered the colony

and police Force regiment for the protectorate. Later, the police Force of Southern Nigeria emerged

from that of the colony. Following the amalgamation of 1914, two separate police formations were set

up for both Southern and Northern Nigeria on 1st April 1930, the Nigeria Police Force was formally

put in place with headquarters in Lagos. The first Inspector General of Police for Nigeria was C.W.

Duncan. Throughout the colonial period, the police was used by the colonial authorities to fulfill their

colonial commercial and strategic interests against the colonized in the colony and protectorates

(Odikalu, 2004).

At independence, the Nigeria Police Force was first regionalized and later nationalized. Generally, the

police was charged with the responsibility of seeing to internal security as well as complementing the

efforts of the other para-military agencies such as; the prisons, immigration, custom services and the

performance of some level of military duties within and outside the country as circumstances required

(Barnabas, 2013). For instance, Section 4 of the Police Act of 1967 provided thus:

The police shall be employed for the prevention and detection of crime; the apprehension of

offenders; preservation of law and order; the protection of life and property and the due

enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are directly charged and shall perform

such military duties within and outside Nigeria as may be required of them by, or under the

authority of this or any other Act (Cromwell, 1978:25).

The Nigeria police has continued to maintain the foundation of force and total allegiance to the state

as inherited from colonialism. In contemporary Nigeria, there has continued to be growing insecurity

and threats to national security. Recorded internal threats to national security in Nigeria include;

ethnic or violent regional agitations, militant or sectarian crises, Boko Haram insurgency, herdsmen

vs farmers clashes/killings, suicide bombing, ethno-religious crises, kidnapping, armed robbery, extra-

judicial killings among others. Despite huge budgetary allocations for internal defence in recent years,

the Nigeria police has hardly had much to show for that. The wide gap that has continued to exist

between the Nigeria police which is essentially been controlled by the Federal Government and the

effective policing of the nation has heightened the call for the establishment of state police in Nigeria

(Odeh & Umoh, 2013).

Thus, Nigeria has continued to receive a low ranking by Global Peace Index (GPI. 2012) due to the

high level of internal threats to national security being recorded in several parts of the country

(Achumba, Ighomereho & Akpor-Robaro, 2013). The recent years, especially Nigeria’s Fourth Republic,

has been recording more of these security challenges. The effective containing of these threats has

therefore remained a major challenge to the Nigeria police and other security agencies. Some scholars

such as Nwaze (2011) accede to the fact that much more blood have been shed in Nigeria since the

restoration of democratic rule on May 29, 1999, than any other time in Nigeria’s history.

A major responsibility of the state is the protection and security of lives and property of the citizens.

This role is fundamental even in Nigeria where the 1999 Constitution made it explicit that “the

security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of the government” (Section 14(2) (b).

The Constitution has therefore empowered the Nigeria police with the onerous duty of detecting and

preventing crime, preserving existing peace and order and seeing to the enforcement of all laws and

regulations pertaining to this (Adegoke, 2014).

One fundamental purpose for the creation of the police is the maintenance of national security.

Generally, security is fundamental to every nation’s survival in the sense that it helps forestall

lawlessness, chaotic situations and possible disintegration of the entire system (Adegoke, 2014).

Security therefore, denotes a dynamic condition of safety as well as the relative ability of a state to

take all necessary measures to counter threats against her core values and interests (Umede, 2011). A

nation’s security is usually based on two assumptions which include; the concerted efforts towards the

maintenance and protection of a nation’s socio-economic foundation in the midst of internal threat as

well as the promotion of the desired order with the aim of addressing the threat to the nation’s core

values and interests in addition to the domestic order (McGrew, 1980).

Although a good number of factors have crippled the effectiveness of the Nigeria police in enhancing

national security in recent times, some members of the Police Force have also constituted a cog in the



wheel of progress of the Nigeria police. Thus, the police on several instances has hardly lived up to

their constitutional obligation to defend the course of justice; fight crimes and protect citizens life and

property in an unbias, and non-partisan manner; maintain integrity and enhance overall national

security.

Consequently, in view of the persistent challenges and threats to national security in Nigeria being

perpetrated by some men and officers of the police command despite several efforts put in place to

promote professionalism in the police Force. This paper therefore focused on the critical assessment

of the Nigeria police and national security in Nigeria.

2. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

This study is anchored on the Marxian approach to the theory of the post-colonial state in Africa.

Scholars such as Alavi (1972), Ake (1981), Eke (1986) and Jakuboski (1973), at various times applied

this theory in their analyses. Simply stated, post-colonial states are also known as comprador, rent

seeking, and developmental states. They are mainly those states that emerged in Africa out of the

process of decolonization especially after the World War II.

Thus, most post colonial states in Africa including Nigeria manifest some of the features of weak

states in view of the weakness of some state institutions and agencies to effectively perform those

functions for which they were set up. Besides, some of the state agencies such as the police Force still

exhibit some primordial loyalty and unnecessary sentiments in the discharge of their functions. In the

view of this theory, the ruling class of the modern capitalist state usually device several means

through the various state apparatus to perpetuate themselves in power and pursue vested interests

peculiar to their class.

Aside having limited autonomy as a major character (Ake, 1985), the post colonial state in Africa is

also constituted in such a way that it reflects and protects specific and narrow individual interests. The

interests being referred to here are basically the interest of the greedy political and economic elites

that control, influence and dominate societal politics and law (Odigbo, 2015). Furthermore, Marxist

scholars generally hold the view that in every capitalists state, state institutions and agencies such as

the police, bureaucracy, prisons, the judiciary among others only serve the interest of the bourgeois

class instead of reflecting the public good (Aja, 1997).

Given the fact that Nigeria is a post colonial state, where there have been the persistence of primitive

accumulation of wealth by some managers of state affairs and manifestation of some level of impurity

by some Government agencies. The study contends that some actions and inactions of some members

of the Nigeria police Force have continued to constitute threats to national security in Nigeria.

2.1. Application of the Theory to the Study

Applying the Marxian approach to the theory of post colonial state of Africa to this study, the fact

remains that Nigeria up till the fourth republic has continued to manifest some of the features of weak

states. For instance, there has continued to be misappropriation and embezzlement of public funds

especially the ones meant for the equipping of public agencies such as the police Force. In addition,

the state in most post colonial states such as Nigeria has continued to assume an “Omnipotent status”

in the sense that some overzealous leaders often manipulate some state agencies that are supposed to

serve the public good and convert such to fulfill personal or regime objectives. A clear case in Nigeria

has been the incessant use of the police in certain quarters and by certain authorities to illegally arrest,

harass, intimidate and carry out other forms of unwholesome acts against perceived opponents of the

state or the ruling party in order to actualize some political, party, economic and other selfish intentions.

2.2. Functions of the Nigerian Police

Professor Eke aptly described the Nigeria police as one of the migrated “social structures the British

bequeathed to Nigeria just like the prisons, political parties, civil service, the military, etc”

(Nwakanma & Amugo, 2018). Due to the hang-over of colonial mentality, these structures have not

actually been domesticated to the extent that the Eurocentric orientation earlier inherited has

continued to affect their overall performance. Aina (2014) contended that the duties of the Nigeria

police are stationary and that the police owe these duties to Nigerians as well as other individuals

legally domiciled in Nigeria. In the performance of their duties, the police therefore is expected to be

guided by the established laws that regulate their functions in order to promote professionalism.



The efficiency and effectiveness of the police in carrying out their functions has continued to attract

public attention and outcry. Effectiveness explains the ability of the police to realize set targets and

substantially confront their problems (Etzioni, 1964). Similarly, Odekunle (2004) submitted that

police effectiveness has to do with her ability to successfully execute its constitutional duties whereas

efficiency measures the extent to which the Force executes its functions with the least or limited input

putting into consideration the time, material, personnel, public goodwill among others. In this vein

therefore, an efficient police is measured by its ability to significantly achieve its goals with minimum

efforts, that is, fewer men, lesser materials and minimal expeditions (Skogan, 1976).

The role of the police in the effective policing of society tells so much about public perception of the

Government which the police represent. This is therefore drawn from the following impressions about

the police:

The police represent the officials of government trained for crime detection, prevention or control

and overall process of law enforcement.

The exhibition of honesty, integrity and adherence to the rule of law in handling issues will have a

correlation with the citizens’ perception with respect to fairness, equity, justice and overall trust,

confidence and respect the citizens will have for the law.

The opinion of the citizens on the government will have so much to do with what the people see

on the police who they normally have more contact with (Odekunle, 2004).

In Nigeria’s legal system, the police have been constitutionally empowered to deal with criminal acts

through surveillance and routine patrol of the community. Crime detection, apprehension of offenders,

gathering of evidence from investigation, arraignment of suspects at lower and higher courts as well

as recovery of stolen property are the police duties that when effectively carried out enhances the

trust and confidence of the citizens on the government (Cromwell, 1978).

Moreover, as the security outfit of the state that has closer link and touch with the society, the Police

attempts to identify with the needs of the citizens in their crises periods. Such periods may include;

child or person recovering, saving of lives of drowning victims, saving of lives and property during

emergencies, dealing with public nuisance and complaints relating to all manner of breach of public

peace, law and order and ensuring harmonious co-existence among the people (Cromwell, 1978: 2.5).

In most cases, the police goes out of its way to bridge certain security gaps that may not necessarily

be within its purview.

Since Nigeria’s independence, the Police Force has been under the operational and administrative

control of an Inspector-General, usually appointed by the president. The apex position occupied by

the Inspector General of police places him in a pivotal position to oversee the activities of the Police

Force in its onerous responsibility of maintaining law and order. Aigbiremoten (2004) and Nigeria

Police Headquarters bulletin, Abuja (2018) captured the list of the officers that have served as either

national commissioners of Police or Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police since 1930 when the British

formally institutionalized the Nigeria Police Force.

Table1. Nigeria’s Inspector General of Police, past and present

S/N Name Title Period

1 C. W. Duncan IGP/Director of Prisons 1910-1930

2 S. H. Trantham AG. IGP 1930-193S

3 Alan Saunders IGP 1936-1937

4 A. Smavrogordato Commissioner of The NPF 1938-1942

5 W.C. King Commissioner of Police 1942-1947

6 T.V. M. Finlay Commissioner of Police 1948-1949

7 Sir I. Stourton IGP 1950-1952

8 MacLaughl A.N IGP 1952-1956

9 Ken Bovell IGP 1956-1962

10 J. E.Hodge j, IGP 1962- 1964

11 L. O. Edet IGP 1964-1966

12 Kam Salem IGP 1966-1975

13 M. D. Yusuf IGP 1975-1979

14 Adamu Suleiman IGP 1979-1981



15 S.A. Adcwusi IGF 1981-1-983

16 Etim Inyang IGP 1983-1986

17 M; A. Gambo IGP 1986-1989

18 A. I. Attah IGP 1990- 1993

19 I. Coomasie IGP 1993-1999

20 M. A. K. Smith IGP 1999-2002

21 T. A. Balogun IGP 2002-2005

22 G. S. Eiiindero IGP 2005-2007

23 M. M. Okiro IGP 2007-2009

24 O.O, Onovo IGP 2009-2010

25 Hafiza. Ringim IGP 2010-2012

26 Mohammed Abubakar IGP 2012-2014

27 Suleiman Abba IGP 2014-2015

28 Solomon Arase IGP 2015-2016

29 Ibrahim Idris Kpotum IGP 2016- Date

Source: Aigbiremoten, (2004; Nigeria Police Headquarters Report, Abuja, 2018).

2.3. Functions of the Nigeria Police Force

The Police is defined as an official body of men and women charged with the duty to protect people

and their property and to make everybody obey the law of the land as well as checkmating of criminal

acts. Similarly, section 214 (2) (b) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as

amended) made a provision that the members of the Nigeria Police Force shall have such powers and

duties as may be conferred upon them by the law. Barnabas (2013:8) captures the pivotal role of the

Police as a major agency of societal order and progress, thus:

The role of the Police in the society therefore positions the Force as a major catalyst in the

progress of a nation. Their involvement in the procedural aspects of legal powers gets them

obligated to observe the canons of legality through respect for political rights, due process and

official accountability. Their observance of citizens’ rights contributes to the survival of

democracy in civil society. Through their involvement in law enforcement, the Force

determines how much the human rights, as enshrined in both the international and municipal

laws of each nation is violated or protected.

The sensitive and delicate nature of the powers and functions of the Nigeria Police made it imperative

from its inception to properly strengthen the law in this regard at least to ensure adequate protection

for the police in the performance of its functions. Appropriate Acts and Laws have also been put in

place to checkmate acts of arbitrariness on the part of the police. At the early years of the formation of

the Nigeria Police for instance, a British Royal Commission aptly observed that:

The police should be powerful, but not oppressive, they should be efficient but not officious,

they should form an impartial force in the body of politic, and yet be subject to a degree of

control by people who are not required to be impartial and who are themselves liable to police

supervision (Nwakanma & Amugo, 2018: 85).

Although some amendments have continued to be made on the functions of the Police Force in

Nigeria to reflect the dynamic nature of society, their functions have remained basically the same. For

instance, the Police Act of 1967, as amended in 1985 (Cap. 41) in addition to other Acts such as the

Criminal Code Procedure Act, Public Order Act, Decrees and Codes have at various times provided

that the functions of the Nigeria Police Force shall include the following:

Power to prosecute in any court of law (Police Act, section 19).

Power to arrest (CPC, cap 43, Police Act, 52: 20, 21).

Power to arrest a person who refuses to aid the police (Police Act, Section 41).

Power to take finger print and photograph of persons under arrest (Crime Prevention Act, section

20:12).

Power to detain, stop and search persons being suspected of criminal behaviour (Police Act,

Section 25).

Power to dispose of property under claimed, found or otherwise (Police Act, Section 31).



Power to search premises suspected of being used for receiving stolen goods (Police Act, Section 24).

Power of ingress (power to break in and out of a room especially when pursing a fleeing felon).

Power to grant bail to persons under arrest without warrant.

Power to bind over a person to prevent him from committing an offence.

Power to grant permit and regulate assemblies (Public Order Act, No 5, 1979:59).

Similarly, Section 4 of the Police Act (Laws of the Federation, 1990:1) further outlines the functions

of the Nigeria Police to include:

Crime detection and prevention;

Apprehension of offenders;

Preservation of law and order;

Protection of life and property;

Enforcement of all laws and regulations with which they are charged;

Engaging in military duties within or outside Nigeria as may be required of them;

3. NATIONAL SECURITY IN NIGERIA

The concept of security has been conceived from various perspectives. In the normative sense,

security denotes the orderly existence of things or a state of protective environment (Aja, 2009). In the

objective sense, security has to do with the absence of threat to life, liberty, property and core values.

At the subjective point of view, security measures the absence of fear, anxiety, tension or

apprehension of being in danger of losing one’s life, property, or values dear to an individual or

nation. Security is usually taken as the topmost priority of the state as every other sector and even life

remains vulnerable without security.

A foremost realist scholar, Thomas Hobbes (1588 – 1679) described security as the protection of lives

and property, the entire law and order through the political sovereignty and monopoly of violence

which the state or government provides. Similarly, a South African white paper on defence (1996)

submitted that security has to do with an all embracing condition whereby individual citizens live in

freedom, peace and safety, participate fully in the governing process; enjoy their fundamental human

rights; have access to resources and the basic necessities of life, and co-habit or inhabit in an

environment which is not detrimental to their health and overall well being. Generally, security is

understood to mean the capability of a state to defend its territorial integrity from all forms of threat,

real or imagined as well as acts of aggression from its actual and imagined enemies. This is usually

why states keep a large army, the police and other intelligence outfits (Okwori, 1995).

Similarly, national security has been described by Aja (2009:10) to include:

Overall total security of life and property; security of the economy and the economic resource

sectors of the country; security of food and raw material resources of the people as well as

their general health; the environment; national integrity and preservation of all that a society

considers to be dear, important and valuable.

With respect to Nigeria, national security represents the totality of the efforts of the state towards the

protection of lives and property of the citizens, preserving her sovereignty, territoriality, the economy,

and enhancement of overall socio-cultural and political harmony in the country. Total security which

has been adopted for Nigeria’s defence and security by the Federal Government encompasses three

elements which are: total defense, diplomacy and internal security (Ogbonaya & Ehiagiamusoe, 2013)

National security is usually centred on the protection, safety and survival of both the state and its

citizens from harm, destruction or some other threats dangerous for human survival (Adebakin &

Raimi, 2012). National security also denotes the concerted efforts aimed at avoiding, preventing,

reducing or resolving violent conflicts at various levels or dimensions of its manifestation (Stan,

2004). Moreover, Babangida (2011) contended that national security represents the physical

protection and defence of the citizens as well as a nation’s territorial sovereignty and integrity.

National security also ensures the promotion of a better living condition and prosperity of the people

under a safe and secure atmosphere necessary for the attainment of a nation’s national interest as well

as those of other nationals.



3.1. Some Dimensions of National Security

Adebakin & Raimi (2012), Aja (2009) and Adedoyin (2014) have identified several aspects or

dimensions of national security to include:

3.1.1. State Security

The form of government adopted by a nation state usually affects the functions such a state renders to

its citizens and how the state will conceive the entire security framework. For instance, the role of the

state varies under unitary, federal or confederal arrangements. Each state in this case uses its own

security system and network to complement the national security efforts to ensure that basic

necessities of life and safety of the citizens are not compromised.

3.1.2. Domestic Security

This has to do with the protection of household lives and property against possible threats arising

from the domestic environment, armed robbery attacks, fire disasters, domestic violence, cases of rape

and other forms of domestic threat that may destabilize the peace of household dwellers.

3.1.3. Industrial and workplace security

This refers to measures put in place to promote safety in the workplace against insecurity of life,

accident or other threats that may cripple institutional or industrial dispute. Safety measures in this

regard may include personal safeguards, fire disaster management, prevention from property

vandalization, hostage taking, kidnapping and environmental pollution.

3.1.4. Human Security

The safety of the human populace constitutes the bedrock of the entire social stability. Unlike

traditional security, human security emphasizes on the protection of the human populace against both

internal and external threats. Effective management of social disorder has been noted as one of the

means of handling acts of insecurity. Conflict management and humanitarian programmes of the

international community have remained key aspects of human security approach (Adedoyin, 2014).

3.1.5. Economic Security

This guarantees an assured income for individual family members, productive employment, as well as

proper remuneration. On the other hand, unemployment, abject poverty, and economic handicap

constitute serious threats to the economic security of individuals.

3.1.6. Food Security

This requires consistent provision and availability of basic food and nutrition to members of society to

ensure their well being and protection from hunger, malnutrition and starvation, climate change, flood

in farmlands, drought, outbreak of diseases on farm crops among others result to poor yield which

threaten food security.

3.1.7. Community Security

This implies the safety or protection of a community from various forms of losses such as loss of

traditional homelands, values and customs as well as the ones arising from ethno-religious and

communal or sectarian crises.

3.1.8. Political Security

This has to do with measures undertaken to promote the safety of the political environment and make

people have trust and confidence on the political system. Efforts usually put in place in this regard

include, the protection of fundamental human rights, freedom from torture, extra-judicial killings,

voter intimidation, vote buying, rigging and other forms of electoral malpractices.

3.2. Challenges of the Nigeria Police in the Effective Policing of Nigeria

Given the enormous responsibilities of the Nigeria police and people’s expectation, it can rightly be

argued that the police is yet to be properly equipped to enable it discharge its enormous functions of

effective policing of the country. The absence of some of the needed tools has grossly affected the

satisfactory performance of the police for which much public outcry has continued to be expressed.

The paper examined the following:



3.2.1. Inadequate Budgetary Allocation and Untimely Release of Budgeted Funds

Government poor budgetary allocation and untimely or partial release of already budgeted funds for

the police commission has continued to affect the performance of the Nigeria police negatively.

Government annual budgetary allocation in the security sector has hardly taken adequate care of what

the police or other security agencies need in order to effectively fight crime and enhance national

security.

A cursory look at the funding of the Nigeria Police Force from 1984 to 2007 showed that the highest

the Nigeria Police Force received was 7.7 percent of the total federal budget. Budgetary analysis also

showed that the police received about 7.6 per cent and 7.7 per cent of the total budget in 1999 and

2007 respectively (Parry, 2008). The later years has not showed appreciable improvement on

government funding of the Police Force. For instance, the percentage of the national budget for five

years (2008 – 2012) as shown in table II shows a clear case of under-funding (Muazu, 2012).

Table2. An analysis of Nigeria’s defence allocation as a percentage of the national budget over a-5-year period

2008 2009 2010 2011 2012

5.75% 5.78% 5.69% 8.48% 7.74%

Source: Muazu, (2012)

The records in table II clearly reveals the extent of under-funding of the Nigeria Police Force by the

Federal Government. This development has led Ebo (2014) to contend that the Federal Government

has abdicated her role in this regard since it has remained the genitor of the Nigeria police. This

problem of under-funding has therefore affected the psyche and overall commitment of the rank and

file of the Nigeria police in its effort towards enhancing Nigeria’s national security (Okonkwo, 2014).

Up till 2018, there has not been appreciable improvement in the funding of the Nigeria Police.

3.2.2. Poor Remuneration and Condition of Service.

The police service is among the least remunerated sectors in Nigeria despite the risky nature of the

service. Poor condition of service has remained one of the major drives for some unprofessional

conduct often witnessed among the rank and file of the Nigeria police. Over the years, the reward

system in the force is nothing to write home about. For instance, before the 100 percent salary

increase by late President Umaru Yar’Adua’s administration, the average take home pay of a Police

Constable was N10,000.00 which was composed of N5,000.00 as salary, lodging, N2,000.00 and

others, N3,000.00 (Barnabas, 2013). Within the same period, a Corporal earned about N13,000.00 and

after the increase earned between, N27,000.00 and N28,000.00. Similarly, a Sergeant earned N15,

000.00 and with the increase, went home with about N31, 000.00.

Following the salary increase, inspectors salary rose to N55, 000.00. At the officer level, Assistant

Superintendent of Police earned between, N80, 000.00 to N85, 000.00 with the increase in salary.

Other affected officers were Deputy Superintendent of Police and Superintendent of Police whose

salaries rose to between, N90,000.00 and N100,000.00 respectively (Barnabas, 2013). Poor

remuneration in the Police Force has for long continued to attract public outcry in view of the fact that

it had led to low morale among members of the Police Force in addition to contributing to their

indulging in some unethical conduct or behaviour.

Apart from poor remuneration, issues such as stagnation of some officers in a particular position;

favouritism and tribalism, parochialism and poor accommodation have all affected the performance of

members of the Force. Describing the nature of the accommodation in some police command, Oseni

(1993) lamented that:

The Nigerian policeman …has no home. Those negligible few homes that exist are hardly

worth the description. They are shanty barracks, devoid of comforts and decency. They are

filthy, over-crowded and dilapidated, needing repairs that will not readily come. Even with

these, they are grossly inadequate… sights of policemen and their families particularly in Lagos

making their homes of broken down vehicles within the barracks under the flyover bridge that

runs along the Force Headquarters premises are very pathetic. Their children are raised in

ordeal, very harsh upbringing that could make them gutless adults than responsible leaders in

future…



3.2.3. Creation of Parallel Security Outfits

The persistent challenges against national security in Nigeria has made the state to diversify efforts

aimed at enhancing national security without necessarily following the due process or considering the

consequences. On creation, those alternate security organizations that are supposed to play

complementary roles with the police are often empowered to investigate, arrest and detain suspects

and thereby eroding the powers of the conventional police whose primary constitutional obligation is

to do so. Often times, such security organizations which are usually put in place by the governing

powers are usually under a mandate or obligation to ensure regime, state or personal security. They

are often times better funded or equipped (Parry, 2008). Some national security organizations which

complement the duties of the Nigeria police include; the National Security and Civil Defence Corps

(NSCDC), the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC), the Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad

(FSARS) and the rest which have in the performance of their duties clashed either among themselves

or with members of the Nigeria police for various partisan, ideological and selfish reasons. The

creation of these parallel security outfits has constituted a violation of section 214 of the 1999

constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria which emphasizes that, “subject to the provisions of

this Section, no other police shall be established for the Federation or any part thereof”. The Nigeria

police and other security agencies have been made caricature of, and ridiculed due to the activities of

some of these parallel security organizations. The morale of the police has often being dampened as

there has continued to be frequent context of powers, clashes, unhealthy rivalry and in fighting as

well as splitting of votes meant for these security organizations.

3.2.4. Inadequate equipment, working materials and use of outmoded equipment

These have remained rife in the Nigeria Police Force. Police officers in most stations have always

complained of lack of basic working materials such as statement forms, bail bonds, case jackets,

police diaries and other items of stationery (Barnabas, 2013). The Nigeria Police has also failed to

keep pace with time in terms of sophistication of crime in modern times. In other words, there have

been proven cases of criminals possessing more sophisticated weapons than the Nigeria police.

Hence, there have been cases of insufficient supply of arms and ammunition, bullet proof vests,

vehicles and other security gadgets. Often times, the police dies at the hands of criminal elements and

bandits due to their over reliance on out moded equipments. The lack of modern crime monitoring,

intelligence and surveillance gadgets for the tracking down of criminals and their hideouts has

therefore, continued to affect the effective performance of the Nigeria Police.

3.3. Critical Assessment of the Role of the Nigeria Police and National Security in Nigeria

The Nigeria Police Force has indeed made some impact on crime detection and prevention as well as

in some other constitutional functions of the police that have in a way contributed to societal order.

However, the unwholesome activities of some members of the Nigeria Police Force have actually left

sad memories in the mind of the people to the extent that such have constituted internal threats to the

nation’s internal security. Among these negative activities include:

3.3.1. Endemic corruption in the Nigeria Police Force

The manifestation of various forms of corruption among the rank and file of the Nigeria Police Force

has remained worrisome to the nation and her populace in the sense that it has continued to hamper

the efforts of the police in boosting the nation’s national security. Despite the efforts the various

administrations in Nigeria have made (and are still making) especially since the restoration of

democratic rule in 1999 in the fight against corruption, the menace has remained unabated in both

high and low quarters in the various sectors of Nigeria. Oxford advanced learners dictionary (2006)

defined corruption as dishonest or illegal behaviour, particularly of people in authority. Similarly,

section 2 of the corruption practices and other related offences Act, 2000 sees corruption to mean

bribery and fraudulent acts capable of depraving morality and integrity. Generally therefore,

corruption denotes abuse of office or authority for personal gains. Corruption is also used to describe

the violation of laid down rules and ethics as well as misuse of public office for selfish advantage

(Barnabas, 2013).

Corruption in the Nigeria Police Force has to do with all forms of wrong doing by the police that go

contrary to the provisions of professionalism. This ranges from extortion of money from motorists and

other unsuspecting victims, compromise on standard and all forms of questionable behaviour.

Barnabas (2013:175) had argued that:



Corruption in the Nigeria Police… is widespread and manifest in multi-dimensions, from arrest

to detention of a suspect, and receiving reports from complaints. The police are accused of

extortion with impunity; at road blocks, motorists are extorted on a large scale daily; at market

places and bus-stops, citizens are forced to pay illegal tolls; even criminals are extorted to set

them free by frustrating their prosecution; and rifles are leased to robbers for operation.

The problem of corruption in the Nigeria police has attracted the attention of some sections of the

international community. For instance, a report released by the United States government in January

2012 noted that corruption and lack of capacity hinder the ability of the Nigeria Police Force to

respond to security and terrorist threats within the nation’s borders. Similarly, Human Rights Watch

report of 2011 clearly observed thus in the Nigeria Police Force:

As in previous years, the undisciplined Nigeria Police Force was implicated in frequent human

rights violations, including extra-judicial killings, torture, arbitrary arrests, and extortion related

abuses. The police routinely solicit bribes from victims to investigate crimes and from suspects

to drop investigations. Embezzlement of police funds is rife among senior police officials who

also often demand monetary “returns” from money extorted from the public by their

subordinates (Human Rights Watch Report, 2011)

Moreover, in what Parry (2008:44) described as organized corruption the following blog summaries

have been noted as manifestations of corrupt practices by the Nigeria Police Force:

Assisting crime suspects to escape from lawful custody;

Obtaining money from suspects for closure of case files;

Escorting of vehicles conveying contra-band and stolen goods;

Stealing from suspected criminals and accident victims ;

Receiving bribes to forestall the arrest of crime suspects;

Receiving bribes in order to effect the arrest of an innocent person who may not be in good terms

with the bribe giver;

Making available to armed robbers police uniforms and arms for a fee;

Leaking of information about complainants to criminals for a fee;

Stealing from crime or accident scene;

Demanding or receiving bribes which blindfolds the police from enforcing traffic regulations that

may be conveying prohibited or contraband goods or items;

Demanding money from suspects as a pre-condition for granting bail even though it is stated that

bail is free.

In his assessment on the performance of the Nigeria police, a former staff officer in charge of training

at the Nigeria Army School of military police who later became a lecturer and Head of the

Department of Criminal Justice at Mississippi Valley State University, Saliba Mukoro noted that:

While there are good men and women of honour in the Nigeria Police, the bad-eggs in the

police amongst the officers and the rank and file have given the police a bad name when it

comes to corruption. It is now a common knowledge amongst Nigerians that corruption in the

Nigeria police is pervasive and systematic… Many officers are deeply involved. (Barnabas,

2012: 176)

A few instances of police involvement on corrupt practices have further been identified by Barnabas

(2013: 177-178) as noted below:

Nigeria’s former Inspector General of Police was alleged to have mismanaged police funds

amounting to N13 billion.

Another former Inspector General of Police was also alleged to have connived with his police

commissioner to influence police budget and stole about N25 million belonging to the police.

In March 1996, five Senior Police Officers, Simeon Adewuyi, Moshobalaye A. Balogun, Titus

Afolayan, Musibau Alade, and Timothy Gbenga were alleged to have received the sum of

$287,000.00 and N200, 000.00 from two armed robbery suspects for co-operation.



In September 1999, a community leader revealed the identity of criminals operating in his area to

the police who later disclosed the man’s identity to the criminals, the next day, the criminals

wasted the man’s life.

On February 17, 2001 some policemen on duty along a road in Kogi State robbed passengers on

their journey and thereafter set the vehicle on which they were travelling on fire to create the false

impression that it was an accident.

In October 2002, nine policemen on duty along Lagos – Ibadan expressway were arrested for

extorting money from motorists.

In September 2003, the Lagos State Police Command announced the dismissal of thirty two

members of their Command found guilty of extortion amounting to N18, 200.

Between January and August, 2005, over 256 policemen were caught extorting various amount of

money from motorists.

In September 2005, 11 policemen (a superintendent of police inclusive) were among 120

members of Nigerian Squad on United Nation’s Peace Keeping Mission in Congo sent home for

alleged rape and abuse of women and young girls in Congo.

In October 2005, three police Constables in Kogi State Police Command were arrested for their

involvement in criminal conspiracy, housebreaking and theft.

In Aramoko, Ekiti State, seven policemen were arrested in November 2005 for alleged robbery

operation that lasted for two days.

The cases recorded above are just a tip of the iceberg. Despite some disciplinary measures and

sanctions metted to erring police officers, the police involvement in criminal activities has remained

unabated, up till 2018. On several occasions, the Inspector General of Police had announced as

illegal the mounting of road blocks on the nation’s high ways which the police have taken as toll

gates. There has been very poor compliance to this directive as it is hardly enforced. The South-South

and South-East geo-political zones have the worst cases of these road blocks despite the frequent

clashes, and fighting between the police, bus conductors, drivers’ and other road users.

3.3.2. Police Brutality and Extra-Judicial Killings

Police brutality in Nigeria has resulted to serious disaffection between most Nigerians and members

of the Nigeria Police. The nature of Police duties as contained in Section 4 of the Police Act, 1975

provides for a harmonious relationship or friendship between the public and the police. The often

inhuman, negative and unbecoming attitude of the police to civilian matters has made the police to be

almost the most hated public institution in Nigeria. Many a Nigerian have concluded that the Police

Force is not only wicked, but corrupt and insensitive to the affairs and feelings of the ordinary citizens

whose interest they are supposed to protest.

Closely related to police brutality is extra-judicial killings by the Nigeria police. Extra-judicial killing

represents the act of depriving a person of his/her life in an unconstitutional manner. Some innocent

Nigerians or suspects (whose cases are yet to be established) such as drivers, bus conductors among

others who refuse or were reluctant to bribe the police on their self made road blocks or illegal check

points have often been sent to their untimely graves by some obnoxious members of the Force on

the guise of accidental discharge. This has usually resulted to a chaotic and anarchic situation which

has usually led to mass protests, demonstrations and uproar between members of the Nigeria Police

on the one hand and the public as well as the civil society group on the other hand.

Apart from the rampant cases of extra-judicial killings of some innocent Nigerians witnessed during

the era of Nigeria’s military juntas, the cases have persisted under the current democratic

dispensation. For instance, apart from cases of extra-judicial killings in Anambra State in 2004 as

noted by Human rights lawyers and some civil society groups in the state, the Executive Director of

Nnewi based Human Justice International Comrade Ifeanyi Onuchukwu who the police arrested and

incarcerated recounted his ugly experience while in police cell. As he stated:

I was in the cell around 7:15pm when 20 detainees were brought out and summarily executed. I

got their names as; Samuel Odoh, Oforbike Odoh, Chibueze Ugwueke, Ugochukwu Okonkwo,

Chizoba Mbaebie, Ifeanyi Nwafunanya, Ugochukwu Anakwe, Ifeanyi Izueke, Ekene Ejike,

Chinedu Okoro, Uche Ubaka, Onyeabo Anakwe, Leonard Obasi, Emeka Ofoke, Chibuzo



Asouzu they were buried in shallow graves at Agu Awka, very close to Ezu River (Barnabas,

2013:126)

Nigerians have continued to express worry over the rascality and brutality of some members of the

Federal Special Anti-Robbery Squad (FSARS). Their disrespect to human rights, especially right to

life of the citizens has remained burdensome. For instance, one Benjamin Peters, a SARS officer in

Abuja fired a shot on a moving vehicle in July, 2018 which led to the death of Miss Angela (a youth

corper) who was to pass out the next day on the completion of her compulsory one year national

youth service (AIT News, 5/7/2018, 8.00pm). The recklessness of some FSARS operatives on civilian

matters in the country led the Acting President, Prof Yemi Osibanjo to direct the overhaul in the

composition and functions of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad on August 15th 2018, in order to check

mate further recklessness of the security outfit.

3.3.3. Persistence of Colonial Orientation in the Nigeria Police Force

The British conceived the idea of the police as an instrument of oppression and brutal suppression

against the quest of the people for independence and self determination. The police only protected the

selfish and economic interest of the colonialists, their actions were hardly people-driven. The police

was placed above and not within the society it was meant to serve. Much of the human rights abuses

committed by the police during the colonial days were hardly investigated to the extent that people

lived in palpable fear and apprehension and often took to their heels at the sight of the colonial police.

In contemporary Nigeria, the police has only ended up behaving in the same way and manner (anti

people) the colonialists conditioned it. Unfortunately, after over five decades of the formal departure

of the colonialists, the Nigeria police have continued to retain and manifest the colonial inherited

punitive and expeditionary character instead of a society friendly law enforcement agency of

Government. It has remained a sad news that up till the 21st century, the culture of force and high

handedness with little regard for human rights instituted by the colonialist have continued to persist in

and among the Nigeria police in the discharge of their duties to the civil society. The impression of

Franklyne Ogbunwezeh about the Nigeria police shows that;

The Nigeria police Force is not only a nest of killers, but a sophisticated citadel of corruption,

variously manned by cold-blooded murderers. This institution statutorily charged with the

maintenance of law and order across the country, embraced a retrogressive metamorphosis,

which saw it configuring itself into a notorious synonym for corruption and grotesque

incompetence; noted for its arrant desecration of every rational cannon of civilized conduct…

(Barnabas 2013:123)

3.3.4. Police Torture and Unlawful Detention

Torture implies a mild physical pain usually inflicted by the police on a suspect in a bid to secure

information or statement from an unwilling or reluctant suspect. On the other hand, detention has to

do with the physical confinement of an accused to a lawful custody. In course of their investigations,

the Nigeria police often adopt the following method in the torturing of suspect(s) which often result to

the death of the victim(s):

Shooting on the hips, cigarette burns, insertion of broom sticks or pins into the genitals of a

male suspect and broken bottles into the vagina of female suspects, beating with horse whip,

electric cables and batons; electric strokes; mock execution, removal of finger nails, denial of

food and medication (Barnabas, 2013:73).

Similarly, the Human Rights Watch had identified certain forms of torture which the Nigeria police

often engage in to include: the flying of arms and legs of the body, suspension by hands and legs from

the ceiling, severe beatings and flogging with metal or wooden objects, spraying of tear gas in the

eyes, shooting in the foot or leg, raping female detainees, and using pliers or electric shocks on the

penis of small suspect (Human Rights Watch Report 2011).

3.3.5. Arbitrary Arrest by the Nigeria Police Force

Arrest implies placing an individual under lawful detention or confinement against the person’s wish,

for the purpose of law enforcement. In this process, the police is deemed as the servant of the state.

Arrest could be with or without warrant depending on the gravity of the issue at stake (Ogbunweze.

2005). Section 35 (1) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria guarantees citizens



personal liberty except on the reasonable suspicion that the individual has committed a criminal

offence or has the intention of doing so (Jegede, 1999). In certain cases in Nigeria, perpetual tears

have remained in the eyes of some families and individuals following the problem of arbitrary arrest

by the police even when no serious cases were established against the victims. At the slightest

provocation and suspicion therefore, the Nigeria police usually raid and arbitrary arrest persons with

no justifiable reasons on the streets, motor parks, bus stops, wharfs, borders, markets and even the

neighbourhood on some flimsy excuses. The police often tear gas, and release stray bullets to cause

panic and scar the people away. This negative culture among the police has continued up till Nigeria’s

Fourth Republic. Among several other cases, on Friday 17th August 2018, in Owerri, Imo State, the

Nigeria police massively arrested, detained and arraigned for trial some women who organized

peaceful protest on the auspices of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) demanding the where

about of the leader of the IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu. The charge against the women who were identified as

female IPOB members was that their action disrupted public peace.

3.3.6. Use of the Nigeria Police as an Instrument to Actualize Selfish, Parochial and Partisan

Political Objectives

Since Nigeria’s political independence, politicians have always used the police as an instrument to

realize some political interest. The Police often use their guns and tear gas to frighten, oppress,

intimidate, and harass political opponents of those whose mandate they are at polling stations or

registration units to fulfill. Much of the reforms the state had organized for the Police Force are

merely aimed at enabling the Force remain obedient, stooges and absolutely loyal to the directives or

orders of the state, the party in power or the powers that be. The various post independence elections

in Nigeria have seen the police being used to actualize various forms of electoral fraud and

malpractices. For instance, the police was implicated in the various electoral fraud and malpractices

that took place in the South-South and South-East geo-political zones of Nigeria in particular during

the 2003 general elections in Nigeria, and thereafter, the police was found in the major cities such as

Port Harcourt, Enugu, Owerri, Calabar, Onitsha, Awka and some other places within the zone

hijacking ballot papers, thumb-printing, intimidating and unleashing various forms of violence to

voters and members of the opposition of the party whose interest they represented. In Anambra state

for instance, the police acted under the influence of a millionaire businessman to abduct the former

Governor of the state, Dr. Chris Ngige following the disagreement the Governor had with his political

god father and sponsor.

The indictment and conviction of Nigeria’s former Inspector General of Police (Tafa Balogun) for

corrupt enrichment and other fraudulent practices during the tenure of Nigeria’s former president,

Chief Olusegun Obasanjo knelt a serious blow to the integrity of the Nigeria Police Force. Electoral

violence with all its consequences has remained a major feature of the electoral process in Nigeria due

to the tendency or complicity of some policemen attached to some polling stations, acting on specific

directives to resort to the use of force and other unprofessional means to deliver the vested interest or

mandate of the powers that be.

4. CONCLUSION

This paper among others examined the extent to which members of the Nigeria Police Force, through

their actions and inaction have contributed to Nigeria’s national security challenges. As a vast multi-

ethnic and heterogeneous country, there are no doubts that to police Nigeria effectively has remained

an arduous task which the police has continued to be confronted with. For years, efforts have

continued to be made to reform and reposition the Nigeria police for better performance. Besides, the

United States and Britain have also been investing heavily in police reform initiatives in the Nigeria

police without much to show for that. Although the Nigeria police has made some impact in certain

areas especially in crime detection and prevention as well as tracking down of some hoodlums and

criminal elements for which some of them had lost their lives, yet, the unwholesome activities of

majority of them have remained a threat to national security in Nigeria. The reforms so far carried out

in the Force have emphasized on professionalism, discipline as well as greater commitment among the

rank and file of the Nigeria Police towards building an effective and efficient policing system with the

sole aim of social justice. In this vain, concerted efforts must be targeted at refocusing and brain

washing the police thoroughly for them to see themselves as servants of the state and not masters.

This is necessary in order to restore people’s confidence in the police given its inability to



significantly protect the lives, and property of the people in addition to the often lack luster attitude of

the police high command in checkmating the persistent excesses, widespread corruption and other

unethical conduct of some members of the Force. The age long culture of police arbitrariness, ethnic

bias, recklessness and mischief in the handling of cases and issues involving the people of Nigeria,

especially those at the grassroots should not be allowed to continue. As the unwarranted use of the

police in actualizing selfish political or other objectives has persisted in Nigeria, such as the invasion

of the National Assembly in August 2018 among others, the state should not see itself encouraging

this ugly development, rather, the state should not relent in getting rid of the “bag eggs” in the Police

command whose acts and obnoxious activities have continued to bring the image and reputation of the

Nigeria police into disrepute.

5. RECOMMENDATIONS

In an effort to improve the effectiveness of the Nigeria Police Force in the ardous task of enhancing

national security in Nigeria, the following recommendations are proferred:

5.1. Improvement in Police Welfare and Conditions of Service

In view of the risky nature of the service, concerted efforts must be made by the state to improve the

living conditions of members of the Force through enhanced salary packages, functional pension

scheme, decent accommodation and sundry allowances especially adequate compensation to the

families of those that die in active service.

5.2. Security should be Seen as Everybody’s Business

In view of the increased threats to national security in Nigeria in modern times, the issue of security

should not be left for the police alone. Vigilante groups (where they already exist) should be equipped

and given all the necessary protection and backing for them to assist on grassroot security. Police-

community or police public relations should be revived, closely monitored and encouraged.

5.3. Provision of Modern Crime Fighting Gadgets and Equipments

In view of the sophistication of crime which has gone hi-tech in modern times, every effort must be

made to properly equip the police with all it needs to properly combat crime effectively.

5.4. Humane Treatment to Accused Persons, Respect for Human Dignity and Human Rights

The Nigeria police should eschew every form of inhuman treatment to accused persons and other

members of the public as well as giving due respect to human rights.

5.5. Security Education/Awareness

Efforts should be made by the government and non-governmental organizations (NGOS) to come up

with appropriate programmes on security education and awareness for Nigerians of every strata. This

will be aimed at inculcating the spirit of patriotism and raising of awareness among the people on the

various forms of threats to internal security as well as the appropriate pro-active measures to counter such.

5.6. Training and Re-Training of Officers and, the Rank and File in the Force

The state should not pay lip service to the continuous training and re-training of members of the

security agencies especially the Nigeria police. Part of the content of the training, workshops,

seminars or symposia will centre on issues concerning professional ethics and the need for the Force

to be properly focused and be abreast of contemporary security challenges and the appropriate

measures to confront such effectively.

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Citation: Alozie, Cyprian C. “The Relevance of Civic Education in the Realization of National Objectives in

Nigeria". International Journal of Humanities Social Sciences and Education (IJHSSE), vol. 6, no.5, 2019, pp.

1-16. doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.20431/2349-0381.0605003.

Copyright: © 2019 Authors. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative

Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium,

provided the original author and source are credited.

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